2023 Frozen Toes Trial Results

     A December trial in Northern Utah could have lovely blue skies and comfortable 50-degree temperatures, or it can go the other way. True to the trial name, judges and handlers would have to endure cold toes, snow, fog, wind, and freezing rain before the trial was over. Our Judges had the ridiculously impossible job of keeping track of dogs, many of them white, with little contrast against the white backdrop of fresh snow. A task complicated further by the reduced visibility of falling snow and fog. They did an incredible job, and the true champions of this trial were the judges who braved miserable conditions so we could have a dog trial. 

Rich Lowe, Dennis Haggard, and Cade Allen rode on four-wheelers for two days, tortured by the weather to judge our dogs. Josh Morris and Barratt Gorshe each braved the elements for a day to fill the final judging spots. Angie Wonnacott as our marshall for both days.The following doesn’t happen without these people agreeing to work the trial. Trial workers, you rock! THANK YOU ALL! Thank you, Cade, for chairing the trial.

Thanks, everyone, for coming out. We hope to see you at our next trial in February.

Saturday, Dec. 2nd

In the early braces of Saturday, A field was stingy, offering very few finds, but by brace five, the dogs were starting to stack them up. In brace 11, Tracy Neilson and Sage had a 4/4 run, scoring 792.16, which would set them up in 3rd. In brace 7, Bruce Swanson and Tiny had a 4/4 and a back run that scored 854.33, leading the field until Bruce ran Ruger in Brace 10. Ruger went 5/4, scoring 865 to bump his kennel mate for the win. Congratulations, Bruce, on placing two dogs in field A. Incredible.

In Saturday’s B field, Joel Cartwright and Knox had a 4/4 run to score 796.5 in brace 3. In the very next brace, Ernie Wakabayashi would handle Boon to 4/4 and a back that would place second and knock Knox to third. Bret Wonnacott and Snaps would show up with a 5/5 and back run, scoring 1053.5 in brace 8 for the win. 

Sunday, Dec. 3rd

Early Sunday morning visibility was severely reduced, but the trial continued in a cloud of fog that challenged judges and handers alike.

In A field, Quinn Inwards had a 4/4 and a back run to score 824 to place 3rd. Bret Wonnacott and an aging Sunnie found four birds and a back to score 881.66 in the opening brace. That would lead the field until her kennel mate Snaps stayed hot and found 5/5, scoring 990 to take the win. 

In a tough B field, Ernie Wakabayashi would place again. This time, with Fisher and a 3/3 run, scoring 624.5 to secure 3rd place. Bret Wonnacott and Rox would also find 3 birds but score 654 to come in second. The field was dominated by up-and-coming handler Gavin Cook with Lilly. Lilly found five birds with 5 retrieves for a score of 892.25 for a much-deserved win. Congratulations, Gavin and Lilly!

Special Accomplishment and Congratulations